Well, if you're thinking about getting the morning after pill, you're in for a wait...
"Plan B" (also known as the "morning after pill") normally prevents pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex - although it’s most effective when taken within 24 hours. But as of now, American women cannot obtain the emergency pill without a prescription (by which time the optimal 24 hour window has often passed).
I think its imperative that women have easier access to Plan B! Making the pill available over the counter would be the single simplest step to reducing the US abortion rate and help thousands of women avert unwanted pregnancies. The American Medical Association has endorsed the drug for over the counter use. April 21, 2006 marks exactly three years since the FDA received an application to make the "morning-after" pill available for over-the-counter sales. But for three years President Bush's political appointees at the FDA have blocked this application, apparently fearing that better contraception will encourage promiscuity. Phooey! Where are the statistics to back that up? The reality is that if Plan B was more widely available, there would be fewer unwanted pregnancies. One study found that if emergency contraceptives were widely available in the U.S., there would be 800,000 fewer abortions each year.
I urge you to take a stand by emailing your senator. http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/womenarewaiting_web
To learn more, visit: www.prochoiceamerica.org
Incidentally, the abortion rate in France, for example, where the drug is available over the counter, is half of America’s. France has actually made a particular push for the drug (as a way to lower abortion rates) by making free morning after pills available to teenagers in school without informing the parents.
That is a really touchy subject but, I agree to the morning after pill. This will lower the abortion. I wish I had that choice before I was force to have my first child. Alot of parent do not beleive in letting there teenager have an abortion they rather that teenage have it and deal with or give the child up for adoption and I don't feel that is helping out society. Especially ,with the population of unwanted children.
Exactly. But making Plan B harder to access leaves many with no choice but to have unwanted pregnancies. If you believe women should have better access to the pill, please go to the link and write to your senator!
I agree. Safe sex is key. But a lot of people have unprotected sex at one point or another.
It seems paradoxical that Bush and his cronies, who are anti abortion, would oppose the idea of young teens obtaining Plan B after unprotected sex. Would they prefer that she got pregnant or had an abortion?
How about abstinence?? You really think giving out plan b pills to kids is the answer? That is going to encourage them to be responsible? What about stds? The amount of kids who are sexually active is discusting! I know an 11 year old who has been sexually active, do you think thats ok? I had someone say "well as long as he didn't get her pregnant". And a human being is a human being, unborn or born, from the moment of conception. Oh, and i'm 17.
I agree that kids are having sex way too young and that abstinence (or safe sex) is the primary solution. BUT, the reality is, hundreds of thousands of teens ARE having sex anyway. So, let's say a teenage girl does have unprotected sex and she's worried she might have gotten pregnant..it boggles my mind that our government would prefer she have an abortion or unwanted pregnancy rather than give her the option of Plan B.
The pill is not going to encourage more people to have unprotected sex. That's just silly. It will only provide a logical option for those who made the mistake of doing so. We all make mistakes in life.
Hey! How did you know about last night's unprotected sex?
I'm kidding, I'm kidding.